Four Stupid Things That Should Worry You About Trump, If You Believe In Climate Change

With the United State’s most controversial presidential election happening tomorrow, everyone in the renewable energy sector, from the U.S. to Europe, is closely anticipating the outcome. With such drastically opposing views on renewable energy, the winner will have a significant impact in determining not only America’s energy future, but in helping achieve the global goal of reducing carbon emissions. But with a president in place who doubts the validity of climate change, our shot at reversing global warming may be diminished.

The issue extends far beyond U.S. borders, as climate change knows no limits. We heard time and time again this year at industry events that time is indeed running out, and that we need to move faster and with more tenacity in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions. At Fortune Brainstorm E, investor Jeremy Grantham warned that the race against global warming is, in fact, the race of for our lives. At BNEF, Michael Liebreich showed us just how much more renewable penetration needs to catch up in order to effectively achieve COP21 emissions goals. At Solar Power International, it was largely acknowledged that our industry could take a major leap forwards or backwards, depending on who is elected to the Whitehouse.

However, Republican Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, still hasn’t bought in. Besides his belief that global warming is a Chinese invented hoax, his oppositions to renewables are based around the ideas that environmental regulations are hindering the economy, solar and wind are too expensive, that coal mining will create more jobs and that the U.S. will achieve energy independency through America’s own resources- oil and coal. But when you take a look at each of these four oppositions, they actually make a stronger case for renewables.

Removing Environmental Regulations & Slashing Policies
Trump has publicly stated that if elected, he would end America’s participation in the global climate treaty (COP21), scrap the current president’s climate-change regulations such as the Clean Power Plan and slash subsidies for renewables – all during his first 100 days in office. However, the Clean Power Plan, which provides national consistency, accountability and a level playing field for clean energy, has helped to reinforce America’s renewable energy industry. In combination with the ITC/PTC extension these policies have helped to create a solar boom like never before. Over the last few years, we witnessed solar PV capacity double year over year, totaling to over 32 GW of output. This progress equates to the powering of over 6.2 million American homes, the creation of over 200,000 American Jobs. Today, we are on the verge of on the verge of the 1 millionth solar installation milestone—a drastic increase from only a decade ago.

High Renewable Prices
Trump claims that he, in fact, knows a lot about solar. At a press conference earlier this year, he lamented that “the problem with solar, is it’s very expensive.” Anyone in our industry knows that solar prices have been steadily declining thanks to market forces and policies such as the ICT/PTC. In just the last 10 years, solar installation costs have dropped 70%, also in part to declining hardware costs. While coal is still cheaper by the watt, solar costs are expected to keep declining between 10-12% per year, given that the right policies and incentives will remain.

Job Creation Through Coal
To date, renewables and energy efficiency has proved successful in creating over 2.5 million jobs in America. Since job creation is a major part of his platform, why would he limit renewable’s progress in favor of coal? The coal industry has been in a slump, thanks to cheap natural gas and oil prices, showing that clearly, Trump does not understand how energy markets work. The candidate pointed out that clean energy policies and restrictions to reduce CO2 emissions would “imperil jobs” for the middle class and lower classes—yet the U.S. solar industry is creating jobs for the middle and lower classing, bridging the gap between income and electricity poverty. Today, the solar industry has employed over 209,000 Americans to date, which is more than oil and gas combined. At this rate, the number is expected to double to 420,000 workers by 2020.

Energy Independence with Oil
Earlier this year at a petroleum conference in North Dakota, Trump stated that “under my presidency, we will accomplish complete energy independence” and to “imagine a world where our foes and the oil Cartels can no longer use energy as a weapon.” While achieving energy independence is important for political and supply stability, other nations, who are scanter on natural resources, are accomplishing this with renewable resources. Renewables have provided these smaller nations with energy and economic security, and shows a hit of a possibility of what’s possible in the U.S. While this poses concern over grid stability and energy supply, energy trading with neighboring countries such as Canada and Mexico would not only strengthen our grid system as it has done in Europe, but provides the economic benefits of trade as well. Building up a wall and retreating into our own coal mines is neither realistic, nor sustainable given our climate crisis today.

These ideas are just a few of Trump’s misconceptions when it comes to energy. It’s becoming increasingly undeniable that not only are renewables good for the economy, energy independence and supply – but the right move for the planet. Reviving the coal industry as well as abolishing clean energy standards, emissions regulations and policies that support brown energy over green runs much deeper than politics. As BNEF’s Liebreich forewarned, “2030 is now,” and if we are to get back on target with emissions goals, coal usage needs to be completely phased out by 2025.

While it seems extreme that one person could determine such a fate, and shape that of an entire industry, the president of a global superpower can make a major impact. Obama’s commitment to COP21 showed the world that the United States is committed to leading global efforts to address climate change – a commitment we should strive to keep. Trump’s failure to recognize the negative environmental impacts of natural gas, oil and coal is a major mistake –but his acceptance could go along way in influencing America’s role in realizing a clean energy future.